News file photo of a large water tower in Alpena.

ALPENA – If you’ve recently received a letter from National Water Specialties Company (NAWSC) about backflow prevention compliance, it’s not a scam. Alpena officials are reassuring residents that these notices are legitimate and part of a mandatory state program to safeguard the public drinking water system.

What is backflow and why does it matter?

A cross connection is any possible link between the clean public drinking water supply and potential source of contamination, such as an irrigation system, boiler, swimming pool, garden hose, swimming pool, and even some home appliances.

Under certain pressure conditions contaminated water can flow backward into the public system, a process known as backflow.

Backflow prevention devices are simple, effective safeguards that stop this reverse flow. While modern plumbing helps reduce risks, older systems, or do-it-yourself modifications can create vulnerabilities that affect not just your home but your neighbors’ water as well.

Not every home needs a device.

One of the biggest sources of confusion is the assumption that every property must install a device immediately. That’s not the case. Because every property is different, NAWSC conducts a case-by-case survey. Many single-family homes have already been placed in “reserve status” after residents responded, meaning no backflow prevention device is required at this time, and they will not receive further letters unless state requirements change.

Alpena Engineer Steve Shultz encourages those who have received a letter to respond promptly. A third party will answer the call and will verify if a residence needs a backflow prevention device.

“There is a number on the letter that they should call, 844-605-5213, and talk to an operator … they have many people answering phones,” Shultz said. “This is a third party, it is not the city, they are taking care of this for us, because even if you know you do not need a backflow preventor, you are going to keep getting letters until you go into the database and make sure that they know you are a residential property that doesn’t have irrigation, or a boiler, or any of those types of things.”

Answering a few simple questions about your property will determine whether you need a device installed, an existing one tested, or if you qualify for reserve status. The process is designed to be straightforward and low-cost for most residents.

“The idea is that once they determine you do not need a back flow preventor, you go on a list, and nothing will be mailed to you for at least three years,” Shultz said.

The City of Alpena water utility is required to submit annual reports to EGLE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that document cross-connection control efforts across the entire system, including private properties. This proactive program ensures compliance while protecting public health.

“This whole thing is driven by EGLE, this is not the city trying to get more money out of people, the backflow prevention has been around for a long time,” Shultz explained. “However, EGLE never enforced it, and now they are, and they informed us we must have a database with all the devices, and they have to be tested.”

Shultz discussed what brought about the sudden need to maintain a database, and why this initiative to obtain information pertaining to backflow devices has been brought forth.

“The main thing is you need to have one if it’s required by the regulations, and the next step is, it must be tested every year,” Shultz said. “They are trying to gather locations as to where these backflow devices are, and that is what this third-party company is helping us do.”

Josh Jambor can be reached at jjambor@thealpenanews.com.